Who needs a solid lower leg to jump well? Not this guy, that's for sure. This is Roger Yves Bost, a jumper from France who is competing at the highest level. His style leaves a little to be desired lol. And I watched him (on TV) jump two rounds, and this is how he takes virtually every fence!

Somewhere behind the scenes is a trainer, shaking his head in wonder at this guy lol.

apachewhitesox

12-06-2012 04:50 AM

um wow....

EvilHorseOfDoom

12-06-2012 04:55 AM

Look, I know nothing about jumping but I can't see that his position is doing his horse any favours balance-wise. Not to be mean or unfair, but I do wonder how much of his success has come from riding really good horses and having his family supporting his career. Yes, he's winning stuff, but I'm pretty sure those horses would find their job easier if their rider was balanced over the centre of gravity and not being flung around the saddle like this. Or this.

apachewhitesox

12-06-2012 05:03 AM

I thought he was actually falling off in a couple of those pictures. Thosemust be good horses.

Chiilaa

12-06-2012 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvilHorseOfDoom
(Post 1786867)

Look, I know nothing about jumping but I can't see that his position is doing his horse any favours balance-wise. Not to be mean or unfair, but I do wonder how much of his success has come from riding really good horses and having his family supporting his career. Yes, he's winning stuff, but I'm pretty sure those horses would find their job easier if their rider was balanced over the centre of gravity and not being flung around the saddle like this. Or this.

I certainly couldn't get on and jump that height, never mind winning, no matter how good the horse. I am not advocating that we forget position being important, just that he has an interesting style :-)

EvilHorseOfDoom

12-06-2012 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiilaa
(Post 1786872)

I certainly couldn't get on and jump that height, never mind winning, no matter how good the horse. I am not advocating that we forget position being important, just that he has an interesting style :-)

Forget couldn't, I wouldn't get on and jump that height :shock: even if I were glued to the saddle. But I'm a wuss when it comes to jumps, I'd much rather have a horse bolt underneath me than ride a round of jumps over 50cm... *cowardly*

He's almost definitely better over jumps than any rider I know (and obviously much better than me :lol:), but I still think it's a poor style and hindering rather than helping the horses he's riding. Much like a journo can criticise a film, an amateur can criticise a pro rider ;-)

Chiilaa

12-06-2012 05:38 AM

I am with you. I prefer dressage, not because I can't jump, but because I simply don't like it much lol.

upnover

12-06-2012 03:54 PM

Do a search of Richard Spooner. He is notorious for his "un-traditional" position. His theory is that he is loose to allow his horse to jump without being inhibited by rider stiffness or something. For him it's not that he's lazy or doesn't care about his leg position. In fact, I saw a video of him riding a hunter in a derby and his leg was quite good.

Regardless, I don't think positions like these are ones to emulate or that we should dismiss a good position. Yes, it's harder to keep a good leg as the jumps get higher but the VAST majority of us simply cannot be balanced or effective with a loose leg.

Corporal

12-06-2012 04:03 PM

I don't see a problem here. He is in 2-point, gripping with his knees. I see him balanced at the midpoint of the jump, and NOT interfering with the horse. What happened to learning to jump without stirrups?!?!? It used to be part of my lessons, and I NEVER competed at any but school shows.

beau159

12-06-2012 04:04 PM

Especially the second photo, you know that he is still hindering that horse, even if he jumped it fine. The horse could have jumped it better, with less rider interference.

I know next to nothing about jumping. I'm a Western rider. I took my first official English lesson last week for the sole purpose of learning some new things. And yet I can see how important body position is to enhance the performance of your horse.

Pretty hard to keep out of your horse's way when you butt is 8 inches out of the saddle. Not to mention the WHACK that horse is about to recieve. Sure, she still might have placed. But not what I would call "good form."